Saw guard



H. E. TAUTZ July 9,- 1935.

SAW GUARD Filed Sept. 20, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July9, 1935. I E TAUTZ 2,007,887

SAW GUARD Filed Sept. 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HERBERT ETAU'TZ ATTORNEY Jul 9, 1935. H, E. T U-r2 2 007,881

SAWGUARD Filed Sept. 20, '1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HERBERT E.TAU'TZ ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1935 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAWGUA D Herbert E. Tautz, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Delta ManufacturingCompany, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 20, 1933, Serial No. 690,248

19 Claims. (Cl. 143-159) This invention relates to a saw guide and guardfollowing Specification Will in Pa be Selffor use particularly withircula saws a d .simevident from the same.

ilar tools. In the drawings accompanying the present More specificallythe invention relates to a speoifiootion. guard of what is known as thesplitter type com- Fi ure 1 is a p p t v vi w s w h 5 prisingessentially an element which enters the bination p t a d ba et u e e W hsaw out shortly after the workpiece leaves the a pp t ng arm for thesome and a fragmensaw, and holds the .kerf open against any tendyportion of a Circular a d s wt bl eney of the wood to close, thuspreventing bindthe splitter guard being shown in the position it ing onthe saw and possible injury or inaccurate ssumes when in use and thebasket guard be n 10 sawing of the workpiece, and danger to the opin itsinactive Position, erator. Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective viewStill more specifically the invention relates to Showing b t e Splitteru d and the basket a combination saw guard consisting of at least uardin active position on the table of a circular two separate members, onebeing a splitter guard of the type above defined and the other being ure3 is a imil r a m n ary r p iv an enclosing guard of the basket typewhich pro- View Showing t e pli er u d in Service alone, tects the handsand clothing of the o erator from F r 4 i a rr sponding fragm nt y ncoming in contact with the saw blade, said two pe ve V ew S g t bas et ud being guards being capable either of independent use Used alone, 20 orof being used simultaneously. Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective viewA furtherobj'ect is to provide means whereby h wing both gu rds w n to pit ns l w the basket guard may rise and fall with respect the a l t p,thus f n t aw f r p a ns to the saw table without interference with thef pes wh r in he guards w ld n f splitter guard, this being accomplishedby pro- Figure 6 is a; side elevation of the splitter 25 viding a slotin a portion of the basket guard, guard a a d or otherwise suitablyshaping said basket guard, re 7 is a fr m ntary side elevation of a soas to clear the splitter guard. modified form of splitter g'uard blade.

Other objects of. the invention reside in pro- Referring fi s o Figures1 and 2, designates viding a splitter guard which may be readily p of aSaw table having therein the 0118- 30 placed in position for use andjust as readily tomory opening for receiving e saw 3 or other placed inanother position where it is out of use rotary tool, d opening being P ay Closed and out of the way, but, nevertheless, secured y a removableinsert D1806 s table ay against loss an ready for immediate readjust' besupported y a i a e frame t in which is me t t Working position, mountedthearbor or shaft l upon which the 35 50 cally adjusts itself intoproper position, thus A further object is, t provide splitter guard sawor other tool 3 is mounted, said shaft being which is capable of aslight floating move- Provided with a p y 5 v Which passes a ment,transverse to the plane of the saw, so that Suitable drive belt it mayadjust itself to slight irregularities of the .To the frame i may besecured a bracket or 40 kerf and of the workpiece and thus prevent anyarm 05, as by screws it or the like. At its outer 40 accidental bindingin the said workpiece. end the bracket arm g5 may be p v ded with Afurther feature of the invention resides in a suitflme bore H adaptefito receive one arm providing splitter guards of various thicknesses m (Fi substantmuy U'shaped guard r corresponding to various saws or othertools, in Support Thls arm may be turned freely v 8 into any desiredposition and said member may A further obJect is to provide a splitterguard which when placed upon a supporting arm then be secured in itsadjusted position by tightenin the clam in screw i3 b means of J videdfor such purpose instantly and automati-r bangle '4. Uihaped m g a zgalso the relatively straight spacing'portion I8 at right angles to theportion 82 and. the further consumed in a,dJust1ng a splitter guard inportion H which is bent'back so as to extend p p r positionparallel tothe portion l2. The member 8 thus Other objects and advantages of theinvention comprises the two supports II and I2 and the saving much time,which would otherwise be will in part be particularly pointed out in thespacing means I8. It will be seen that by this use on the circular sawtab1e in the bore ill to adjust the U-shaped member 15- construction theU-shaped member 3 may be swung in the bore I'I about the axis of its armH, to bring the arm either above the table, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 4, or into a position below the table, as shown in Fig. 5. The armI! is also slidable axially in the bore |'I to permit lateral relativeadjustment thereof, as desired, and in fact the same may be entirelyremoved by sliding it completely out of said bore II, when-- ever it isdesired to do so.

The saw table may have the usual guide slots 9 therein for auxiliaryappliances, which form no part of the present invention, such as mitergages or other sliding devices, and may be provided with the rippingfence ill with apertures 23 therein, which is slidable over the topsurface of the table and securable by means of a nut 2d coacting withmeans l9, engaging the channel bar 22, fastened at the rear of the tableby screws 2|, as best shown in Fig. and as claimed in the copendingapplication, Serial No. 655,279.

The upper arm or support H of the U-shaped member 8 serves to provide arod or pivot about which may be swung the member 30, which is pivotedabout said arm ,H, as shown, and to which are secured the two arms 24,as by screws 25. The member '30 may be retained against shiftingaxially'on the arm H by means'of two collars 32 and 33, placed beyondthe respective ends thereof, and retained adjustably in position by setscrews 34 and 35, respectively. At

their outer ends the arms 2t accommodate a.

pivot-shaft or pin 26, secured at each end by a suitable cotter pin orthe like 21, preventing the arms 24 from spreading outwardly. About thisshaft 26 is pivoted a saw guard 28 commonly known as of the basket" typeand having a sloping forward surface 3| adapted to be engaged and raisedby a workpiece I36 when being fed to the saw, this being most clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4.

This basket guard, when in the position shown in Fig. 4, completelyprotects the saw blade against accidental contact with the clothing orperson of the operator, automatically rising when the workpiece I36 isfed to the saw, by

reason of the said sloping surface 3|, and againfalling back into placeagainst the top of the saw table I when the workpiece I36 has passedbeyond the rear end of the guard. This guard may be swung into severalpositions, as shown for example in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, being in itsinactive position in Figs. 1 and 5 and in its active position in Figs. 2and 4. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 aslot 23 may be provided in therear upper surface of the guard 23 for a purpose which will be explainedhereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, a guard of a different type is shown inposition for use, namely, the splitter guard which is designatedgenerally by reference character 43. This splitter guard consistsprimarily of a plate or blade of flat material, shaped as shown in Figs.1, 2, 3 and 5,andasshownindetailinFig.6.

In Fig. 1 this guard is shown in place behind the saw blade 3 andsubstantially in the same plane as said saw blade so that a workpieceupon being ripped by the saw will pass partly on each side of the plate40, with said plate engaging in the saw kerf. The forward edge portionof the plate lll is preferably bevelled, as shown at 43, the bevelledsurface being formed as a curve corresponding to the size of the sawblade 3 so that when the saw blade 3 is advanced to its greatest extentabove the top of the table, the

said bevelled edge will still clear the teeth of the saw by a suflicientmargin of safety. The forward upper tip of the blade 40 is preferablyrounded, as shown at 50, although the exact shape of said portion is notimportant.

The plate 40 preferably hasa flat lower edge as indicated at 41, whichcan rest firmly against the top of the table and in the rear of the saidportion 41 a notch 48 may be provided, thereby keeping the top of saidnotched portion out of contact with the table so that any irregularitiesof the rear edge of said table will not affect the proper alinement andseating of the blade 40 upon the said table top. For a similar reasonthe downwardly depending portion 4| of the blade is so shaped that itremains out of contact with the table or the channel member 22 disposedat the rear thereof. Said depending portion 4| may be provided with anaperture 42, best shown in Fig. 6, which may be engaged over the lowerarm or support i2 of the U-shaped memher ,8. It may be secured upon saidarm or rod l2 between two collars 52 and 53, as shown in Fig. 5, saidcollars being secured to the rod or arm 82 preferably by a set screw 54and a thumb screw 55, respectively, for simplicity of manipulation. Afurther coilar 51 may be provided on the rod or arm l2 and securedthereto by a set screw 58, said collar 51 preventing the arm or supportl2 from passing axially outward from the-position shown in Fig. 5, forexample, and thus assuring the proper positioning of the U- shapedmember 8 and the guards carried thereby with respect to the saw blade 3.The rear edge I 46 of the plate or blade 4|! may be of any desired shapewhich does not interfere with the operation of the device, and is here'shown as a circular arc, although it will be understood'that thisconfiguration is chosen merely for simplicity and good appearance, andmany other shapes will be equally satisfactory. A notched portion H,here shown as semi-circular in shape, (see Fig. 6), may be provided atthe rear upper end of the plate and defined between the forward,somewhat blunt, point and the rear elongated projection or tongue 43. Adepression or recess 5| is provided below the tongue 43 for a purposewhich will now be set forth. 7

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the elongated curved tongue 43enters between the rod II and the member 30 when the said member I 30 isswung into the position shown in said Fig. 1, or when in the positionshown in Fig. 5. The provision of the depression 5| thus makes itpossible to swing the basket guard 28 into the inactive position shownin Fig. 1 by providing room for the swinging of the member 30. It willbe noted that the spacing between the aperture 42 and the notch 44corresponds to the spacing of the supports or arms II and I2, so thatthe aperture and notch may simultaneously engage said two supports. InFigs. 2 and 4 there is shown a slot 29 in the guard 28, Fig. 2 showinghow said slot 23 cooperates with the blade 40 to allow the guard 23 tofall into position over the saw blade 3 in spite of the presence of theblade 40.

It will be notedfrom Fig. 3 that, if desired, the upper rearward end ofthe plate 40 may be supported on the support or rod II by means of thetwo collars 36 and 31 located upon said rod on opposite sides of thenotch portion 44 of the plate 43, said collars 36 and 31 being securedin their adjusted positions by means of the set screws 33 and 39,respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 7 it will be noted that said plate 40, in otherrespects, remainingidentical with that shown in Fig. 6.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the precedingdescription thereof, but may be briefly summarized'as follows:

If it be desired to employ the splitter guard alone, the machine maybeset up as shown in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 3, Fig. 1 showing the basket guard28 merely thrown backward into inactive position where it does notinterfere with the splitter guard blade 40 and Fig. 3 showing the basketguard removed entirely, together with its supporting means 30, 24, etc.Usually it will be preferable to employ the Fig. 1 set-up, because suchset-up does not necessitate removing the basket guard and yet brings itout of the way of the operator so that the splitter guard 40 alone maybe used.

Theoretically a series of splitter guards 40 may be provided, varying inthickness to agree with the widthof the saw kerf, or the thickness ofthe saw itself, measured across the set of the teeth, and in certaincases this may be desirable. However, in most cases a splitter guard ofa single thickness may cooperate with saws of slightly differentthicknesses, thus economizing in the expense and providing greatersimplicity.

If, however, it is desired at any time to employ splitter guards ofvarying thicknesses, adjustment for this purpose is readily provided bymeans of the adjustable and removable collars '35, 3?, 52 and 53,whereby it is evident that the blade M may beaccommodated regardless ofits thickness and may be adjusted into any desired position along thesupports it and M. It will be noted that the splitter guard blade 40 haspreferably a bevelled forward edge 49, which readily enters into the sawkerf in spite of slight inaccuracies of alinement between blade 40 andsaw 3.

It is also clear that the blade 40 need not' be tightly clamped betweenthe collars mentioned. but may be allowed a certain slight play so as tofioat" and accommodate itself readily to inaccuracies of alinement orinaccuracies in the saw kerf, thus preventing a tendency to bind,

which might otherwise occur if the splitter guard were held rigidlyinstead of being allowed to float.

The splitter guard may be readily placed in position for service byremoving the outer collar 53 by means of the conveniently located thumbscrew 55, thus giving free access to the end of the rod It, the saidblade 40 being then engaged first with its notch 44 upon the rod l I andthenwith its aperture 42 upon the rod l2, whereupon the collar 53 isreplaced and secured by means of the thumb screw 55. Inasmuch as thespacing between the arms or rods ii and I2 is substantially the same asthe spacing between the aperture 42 and the notch 44 it is clear thatthis operation will lock the plate 40 securely upon the said twosupports II and I2 and prevent any disengagement or loss thereof.

The same efiect will be secured if the Fig. '7 type of blade isemployed, because the notch 58 will serve equally as well as theaperture 42 to retain the corresponding portion of the blade securelylocked in place. The Fig. 7 form of blade is, therefore,'equivalent tothe, Fig. 6 form inmost respects, but lacks the advantage that the Fig.6 form may be permanently secured against loss on the rod I! by merelyslipping the aperture 42 over said rod and then securing the plate bymeans of the collar 53 and thumb screw '55, allowing the blade to hangdown freely from the rod I! when not in use, that is, without the notchsimultaneously engaged upon the rod II. By so doing the blade 40 may beprotected against loss or damage, while not interfering in any way withthe operation of the saw.

If it be desired to employ the splitter guard in combination with thebasket guard the parts may be arranged as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon theslot 29 in the basket guard will permit said basket guard 28 to move upand down with respect to the saw table, without in any way interferingwith the operation of the splitter' used alone, the splitter guard 40being either removed entirely from the machine or else swung intoinactive position below the machine, as previously described.

Fig. 5 shows how it is possible to leave both the basket guard 28 andthe splitter guard 40 permanently attached to the machine, and ready foruse again instantly when desired, but yet swung entirely out of the waybelow the table top so as not to interfere in any way with certainoperations of the/saw, such as grooving or dado work, for example, Whereobviously a splitter guard cannot be used.

It is thus clear that there has been provided by the present invention acombination guard comprising a splitter type guard and a basket typeguard, which, however, are not rigidly se-v cured to one another, butwhich are entirely independent of one another and which may be usedeither together or independently of one another and may even be swung inpositions where they both' are entirely out of the way when it isdesired to dispense with their use, and that the splitter guard providedby the present invention may be secured either relatively rigidly or ina floating manner, as desired, and may be held either only at its lowerend or at both the top and bottom of the same, so as to adapt it to avast variety of different conditions.

While a definite embodiment of such guards has been illustrated anddescribed in detail in the present drawing and specifications, it is, ofcourse, clear that many changes and modifications can be made in variousfeatures thereof.

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by thefollowing claims and is not to be held to be limited to the exact formsillustrated and described herein.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A splitter guard for acircular saw having a frame, said guard comprising a flat plate havingable upon said second support whereby the plate 1 is retained in adefinite position with respect to said two supports and substantially inthe plane of the saw.

3. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, said guardcomprising a flat plate having an aperture, and a U-shaped supporthaving one of its arms fitting in said aperture and secured to the frameof the saw, said plate having an open notch engageable upon the otherarm of said support whereby the plate is retained in a definite positionwith respect to said two arms and substantially in the plane of the saw.

4. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, said guardcomprising a fiat plate having an aperture, a support fitting in saidaperture and secured to the frame of the saw, means preventing excessivetransverse movement of said plate with respect to the support, a secondsupport, and means spacing said supports at a predetermined distancefrom one another, said plate having an open notch engageable upon saidsecond support whereby the plate is retained in a definite position withrespect to said two supports and substantially in the plane of the saw.

-5.-A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, said guardcomprising a flat plate having an aperture, a U-shaped support havingone of its arms fitting in said aperture and secured to the frame of thesaw, and means for removably securing said plate to said arm, said platehaving an open notch engageable upon the other arm of said supportwhereby the plate is retained in a definite position with respieft tosaid two arms and substaiitially in the pla e of the saw.

6. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame and a supportsecured to said frame, said guard comprising a fiat plate having aportion of its periphery shaped to engage said support, meanscooperating with said support to retain the plate against excessivetransverse movement, a second support, and means spacing said supportsat a predetermined distance from one another, said plate having anotherportion of its periphery engageable upon said second support, wherebysaid plate is retained in a definite position with respect to said twosupports.

'7; A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, and a U-shapedsupport, means securing said support to the frame, said guard comprisinga fiat plate, said plate being shaped to engage one arm of said support,and means for removably securing said plate to said arm, said plate alsohaving an ope notch engageable upon the other arm of said supportwhereby the plate is retained in a definite position wit respect to saidtwo arms and substantially in he plane of the saw.

8. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame and a supportsecured to said frame, said guard comprising a flat plate having aportion of its periphery notched to engage said support,

" means cooperating with said support to retain the plate againstexcessive transverse movement, a second support, and means spacing saidsupports at a predetermined distance from one another, said plate havinganother portion of its periphery notched to engage said second support,whereby said plate is retained in a definite position with respect tosaid two supports.

' 9. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, and a U-shapedsupport, means securing said support to the frame, said guard comprisinga flat plate, said plate being peripherally notched to engage one arm ofsaid support, and means for removably securing said plate to said am,said plate also having an open notch engageable upon the other arm ofsaid support whereby the plate is retained in a definite position withrespect to said two arms and substantially in the plane of the saw.

10. A combination guard for a circular saw having a frame and a supportsecured to said frame, said combination guard comprising a basket guardpivoted to said support and a splitter guard secured to said support,said basket guard being shaped to receive and move freely past thesplitter guard in such solely pivotal movement.

11. A combination guard for a circular saw having a frame, saidcombination guard comprising a basket guard pivotally secured to saidframe and a, splitter guard also secured to said frame, said basketguard being shaped to receive and move freely past the splitter guard insuch solely pivotal movement.

12. A combination guard for a circular saw having a frame, saidcombination guard comprising a basket guard pivoted to the said frameand a splitter guard secured to said frame, said basket guard having aportion thereof cut away, said splitter guard being located within saidcutaway portion, whereby the basket guard may move freely past saidsplitter guard in such solely pivotal movement.

13. A combination guard for a circular saw having a frame and a supportsecured to said frame, said combination guard comprising a basket guardpivoted to said support and a splitter guard secured to said support,said basket guard having a portion thereof cut away, and said splitterguard being located within said cutaway portion, whereby the basketguard may move freely past said splitter guard in such solely pivotalmovement.

14. A combination guard for a circular saw having a frame and a supportsecured to said frame, said combination guard comprising a basket guardpivoted to said support and a splitter guard secured to said support,said basket guard having a slot thereingfi and said splitter guard beinglocated within the confines of said slot, whereby the basket guard maymove freely past said splitter guard in such solely pivotal movement. J)

15. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame and a supportsecured to said frame at a definite distance from the axis of the sawblade, said guard comprising a flat plate having an aperture therein,said support being engaged in said aperture, thus permitting solelypivotal movement of said plate about said support, whereby the plate maybe pivoted into or out of its active position with respect to the bladeof the circular saw, without striking said saw blade.

16. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, said guardcomprising a flat plate having an aperture, a U-shaped member, means forpivotally securing one arm of said U-shaped member to said frame, saidarm passing through the aperture of the plate, said plate having a notchupon its periphery and in engagement with the other arm of the U-shapedmember, whereby said plate may be swung into and out of active positionwith respect to the blade of prising a guard pivotally secured to theirame,

a splitter guard secured to the frame, said firstnamed guard straddlingthe splitter guard, and means whereby the first-named guard may be swunginto and out of active position with respect to the blade of the saw andpast the splitter guard without interfering with the said splitterguard.

18. A splitter guard for acircular saw having a frame, said guardcomprising a flat plate having an aperture therein and a support securedto the frame at a definite distance from the axis of the saw. blade andpassing through said aperture whereby said plate may pivot about thesupport into and out of active position with respect-to the blade of thesaw, without striking said saw blade,

by such solely pivotal movement, and further means cooperating with thesupport to retain the blade in its desired position axially of thesupport.

19. A splitter guard for a circular saw having a frame, and a supportsecured to said frame,

said guard comprising a flat plate having an aperture therein, saidsupport passing through said aperture and serving as a pivot for theplate, an abutment, means for adjustably securing said abutment to saidsupport, a retaining member removably secured to said support on theopposite side of said plate, the plate being retained between saidabutment and said member, whereby the plate may be readily removed fromand replaced on the support without disturbing its desired alinementwith the blade of the saw.

. HERBERT E. TAUTZ.

